PA66 Plastic Sheet: Properties, Advantages & Common Applications

Key Advantages of PA66

High Impact Toughness

PA66‘s most significant advantage is its impact strength — 50% higher than POM and 2× that of PEEK (unfilled). This makes it ideal for components subject to sudden impact loads.

Good Temperature Resistance

With a melting point of 260°C and continuous service temperature of 100°C (dry), PA66 outperforms POM (100°C) and competes with higher-priced materials for moderate-temperature applications.

Excellent Reinforcement Response

PA66 responds exceptionally well to glass fibre reinforcement:

· Unfilled: 85 MPa tensile strength

· PA66 GF30: 180 MPa tensile strength

· PA66 GF50: 220 MPa tensile strength

Glass-filled PA66 can replace die-cast aluminium in many structural applications at half the weight.

Wear Resistance

PA66 has good inherent wear resistance, further enhanced with additives:

· PA66 + MoS2: excellent for bearing and slide applications

· PA66 + PTFE: low-friction sliding components

Limitations of PA66

Moisture Absorption

PA66‘s biggest drawback is its high moisture absorption (up to 8% at saturation), causing:

· Dimensional swelling of 2–3%

· Tensile strength reduction of 30–50%

· Decrease in flexural modulus

· Reduced hardness

For applications in humid or wet environments, POM is often a better choice due to its 0.8% saturation absorption.

UV Degradation

Unprotected PA66 degrades under UV exposure. Black (carbon black filled) grades are required for outdoor applications.

Common Applications

Automotive

· Engine cover components

· Radiator end tanks

· Intake manifolds (glass-filled)

· Door handle mechanisms

· Seat structural components

Consumer Goods

· Power tool housings

· Sports equipment (ski bindings, racket components)

· Furniture structural parts

· Kitchen appliance gears

Electrical & Electronics

· Cable ties and connectors

· Switch housings

· Circuit breaker components

· Terminal blocks

Industrial

· Gear wheels and racks

· Bearing bushes

· Conveyor components

· Pneumatic system parts

For comparison with POM, see our POM vs PA66 guide. For material overview, read our Engineering Plastics Overview.